Tuesday, June 3rd, the first deputy mayor Anthony Borré detailed the mixed rental scheme. A mechanism that allows property owners to rent to students and seasonal workers. A recent system aimed at promoting access to student social housing.
“We went from 25,000 students to over 51,000. Student housing is an absolute priority” exclaimed Anthony Borré, at the very beginning of his speech in an apartment of the Cèdre Bleu residence on Boulevard Gambetta. This finding has pushed the city of Nice to find initiatives to facilitate housing access for students and seasonal workers. Among the development plans, the mixed rental. A scheme that emerged in 2021, in Nice.
The scheme in detail
Rent for nine months to a student, during the university year, three months to a seasonal worker, during the summer. This is the principle of mixed rental. A year split in two. First from September to the end of May, then from June to the end of August.
This scheme allows property owners to benefit from an authorization for change of use to furnished tourist accommodation. Small particularities: the owner must meet the Crous criteria and only students who are CAF recipients can apply for the rental. It is a quadripartite agreement between the student, the owner, Crous, and the city.
A discreet but successful start
Born in 2021, mixed rental did not immediately see great success. “1 application the first year” recalls Anthony Borré when recounting the history of the scheme. The reason being, the capped rate set by Crous was not appealing to owners, who lost out too much. Since the adjustment, the situation is different.
“I want to thank the quality of the understanding we have with Crous, which allowed us to adjust the amount. Since 2021, it has grown in strength. 142 accommodations have been provided to students as part of the mixed rental. It has found its success! 142 accommodations is an entire student residence” explained Anthony Borré. And there have been 80 new accommodations just for this year.
“We still need to make this scheme known to unions, real estate agencies, and owners. That is all the interest and the challenge because this scheme benefits both owners and the city and helps to fight against tourist furnished rentals” concluded the first deputy mayor.
A win-win scheme for owners and students?
Ahmad Haraké, representative of the Cèdre Bleu residence, participates in the mixed rental: “the year is easily occupied by students. For tourists, we rent very, very well. All the months are rented. Today, a student leaves. Tomorrow, the apartment is rented. We are steady in terms of profitability. Even with the small inconvenience of the student rate, we make it work”. Indeed, it is Crous that caps the rent price for the student, below that of the seasonal worker. “If the student leaves during the year, we are not allowed to rent to a seasonal worker. It’s a point to raise” he adds. “I would like there to be a solution for us. Finding another student, and it’s challenging during the year.” It is a significant issue that can deter owners before committing to a mixed rental scheme.
For students, forced to leave the accommodation during the summer, it’s a scheme to study in advance. According to Noah, a geology student who just completed his three-year course, “if every summer we have to move, it’s much more of a hassle.” And this, despite the attractiveness of the price: €344 with aid for 23m2.
For Logan, this gap during the summer, “It must of course be anticipated.” But this does not pose a problem for him. “We live in the Hautes-Alpes, so it’s not bothersome, I go back to my parents.”
It should be noted that the mixed rental is not automatically renewed from one year to the next for the departing student. If they wish to return, they are not given direct priority. However, the student can reserve from one year to the next and thus ensure they keep the accommodation. “It is the only interesting and fair scheme. We aim solely for growth and to expand this scheme”, concluded Anthony Borré.
